| |
Communication at the NABS Annual meeting, Keystone, 2000
(102) ANALYSIS OF ALGAL COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT A TROPICAL WATERSHED.
C.E. DeJaco1 and R.J. Stevenson2. 1Dept. of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, 2Dept. of Zoology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115
Algal communities in wet tropical forests have been observed in terrestrial as well as aquatic habitats. We hypothesized that algae in aquatic habitats would be flushed out of the streams by flash-flooding in the wet season, while the communities in terrestrial areas would flourish. In the dry season, we expected substantial algae present in streams, but little in the terrestrial areas. Samples were collected from the stream and surrounding watershed of Bisley-3 of the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Puerto Rico. Sampling was done in March and October 1999, respectively the dry and wet seasons. The samples were brought to the lab to be analyzed for soft and diatom species composition and cell counts. Algae were present in all habitats and seasons, and communities were significantly different from each other. Diatom density was higher in the stream communities than terrestrially; however, species richness was higher in the terrestrial communities. The species composition of algal communities was markedly different as well. The aquatic communities were dominated by Achnanthes suchlandtii, while the terrestrial communities were dominated by Diadesmis contenta.
Presented at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, May 30, 2000 in Food Webs and Communities II
|
|
